Now that's scary! He111 v Beaufighters

[Feathered_IV]

One of my most memorable flights was back in Il-2 when I set up a Blenheim mission and flew the whole thing from the gunners position. The flight formed up and headed out to sea, looking heroic as it crossed over the channel on its way to a Jerry airfield.
Over the target the flak claimed two and I had a perfect view as they fell out of formation and disappeared below. 109's pounced on the formation just after bomb release and ripped into them as they struggled back to England. They started on the rearmost aircraft and worked their way forward. All the time I was straining to get a bead on one, but they never came close enough. Eventually I fired off all my ammo in a futile hope of hitting something. As the last accompanying Blenheim fell into the sea, the 109's finally retired and headed home. Leaving my one solitary Blenheim as the only survivor. I finished the mission in a very thoughtful mood. I've never flown it again.